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Hair dryer attachments explained: concentrator, diffuser, comb

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A concentrator nozzle focuses airflow into a narrow stream for smoothing with a brush. A diffuser spreads airflow wide and soft for drying curls without frizz. A wide-tooth comb attachment stretches and detangles curly or coily hair as it dries. Smoothing nozzles, gentle air and flyaway attachments are variations aimed at specific finishes.

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Most premium hair dryers come with two to five attachments, and many people only ever use one. Each attachment changes how air leaves the dryer, which changes the result: smooth and sleek, defined curls, stretched coils or a quick rough dry. This page explains what each common attachment does, when to use it, typical settings, and whether attachments from one dryer fit another. It covers the standard trio of concentrator, diffuser and comb, plus the extra attachments found on dryers from Dyson, T3, BaBylissPRO and others.

Attachments at a glance

  • Concentrator

    Narrow jet for smoothing with a brush

  • Diffuser

    Wide, soft spread for curls

  • Wide-tooth comb

    Air flows through the teeth to stretch curly and coily hair

  • Smoothing nozzle

    Wide, flat, gentler airflow for finishing

Common dryer attachments and the airflow each one makes. Which ones come in the box varies by model.

  • Concentrator nozzle

    Airflow pattern
    Narrow, focused jet
    Best for
    Smoothing with a round or paddle brush
    Typical settings
    Medium heat, medium to high airflow

  • Diffuser

    Airflow pattern
    Wide, soft spread
    Best for
    Curls and waves
    Typical settings
    Low to medium heat, low airflow

  • Wide-tooth comb

    Airflow pattern
    Air through the teeth
    Best for
    Stretching curly and coily hair
    Typical settings
    Medium heat, medium airflow

  • Smoothing nozzle

    Airflow pattern
    Wide, flat stream
    Best for
    Drying and smoothing without a brush
    Typical settings
    Medium heat, medium to high airflow

  • Gentle air

    Airflow pattern
    Wider, softer flow
    Best for
    Fine hair, near the scalp
    Typical settings
    Medium heat, medium airflow

  • Flyaway attachment

    Airflow pattern
    Coanda finishing flow
    Best for
    Taming flyaways on dry hair
    Typical settings
    Low to medium heat

Concentrator nozzle

The concentrator is the flat nozzle most dryers include. It narrows the airflow into a slot so you can direct heat onto one section at a time, usually while pulling hair taut with a round or paddle brush. Point it down the hair shaft, from root to end, to smooth the cuticle direction. Keep it moving, because focused air puts more heat on the hair under the slot.

Some dryers come with two sizes. The BaBylissPRO Rapido lists small and large concentrators, and the Drybar Buttercup lists two concentrator nozzles. A narrower nozzle gives more precision; a wider one dries larger sections. T3's Aire IQ kit separates a quick dry concentrator from a style concentrator. See how to blow dry hair straight.

Diffuser

A diffuser is a bowl with prongs that spreads airflow over a wide area at lower force. That lets curls dry in their natural pattern without being blown apart. Use low airflow and low to medium heat. Cup curls in the bowl, lift toward the scalp, hold, then lower. Avoid moving it constantly or touching curls as they dry.

Diffuser size and shape vary a lot, and some dryers do not include one. If you have curls, check that the dryer you buy includes a diffuser or that the brand sells one that fits. Our how to diffuse curly hair guide shows the technique.

  1. 1 Cup

    Let a section fall into the diffuser bowl.

  2. 2 Raise

    Lift the bowl toward the scalp.

  3. 3 Hold, then release

    Hold for a few seconds, then lower the bowl away.

  • Low airflow
  • Low to medium heat
  • Do not touch while drying
Diffusing curly hair in three steps. Repeat section by section until the hair is dry.

See dryers that include a diffuser →

Wide-tooth comb and pik attachments

A comb attachment has wide teeth that sit on the end of the dryer. Air flows through the teeth as you comb, so you can stretch and detangle curly and coily hair while drying it, with less tension than a round brush. Start at the ends and work toward the roots. Dyson includes a wide-tooth comb with many Supersonic kits, and the BaBylissPRO Rapido lists compatibility with a straightening comb attachment.

Smoothing, gentle air and flyaway attachments

Dyson has added several specialist attachments over the years. The smoothing nozzle dries and smooths at the same time without a brush. The gentle air attachment gives a wider, softer airflow. The flyaway attachment uses the Coanda effect to tuck shorter flyaway hairs under the top layer on dry, styled hair. Dyson's attachments are magnetic and rotate. See how to use each Dyson Supersonic attachment.

Some newer dryers recognize attachments automatically. Dyson says the Supersonic Nural and Supersonic r attachments remember your preferred settings, and T3 describes Smart Attachment Recognition on the Aire IQ.

Which attachments do you actually need?

You do not need every attachment. Match them to how you style. If you mostly do sleek blowouts, the concentrator is the one that matters, and a second, narrower concentrator is a bonus. If you have curls or waves you want to keep, a diffuser that fits your dryer is the priority. If you have coily hair you like to stretch, a comb attachment saves time compared with a brush.

If you share a dryer with someone who has a different hair type, a kit with three or more attachments makes sense. The styler finder suggests which attachments suit your hair type, length and goal.

  • Smooth, straight blowout

    Attachments to look for
    Concentrator, ideally two widths

  • Volume

    Attachments to look for
    Concentrator plus a round brush, or a gentle air style nozzle for roots

  • Defined curls or waves

    Attachments to look for
    Diffuser

  • Stretched curly or coily hair

    Attachments to look for
    Wide-tooth comb, then diffuser

  • Quick everyday drying

    Attachments to look for
    Smoothing nozzle or no attachment

Do attachments fit other dryers?

Usually not reliably. Nozzle diameters and fittings differ between brands, and Dyson attachments use a magnetic fitting designed for Dyson dryers. Universal diffusers exist, but fit varies and a loose attachment can fall off or restrict airflow. Restricting the intake or outlet can make a dryer overheat and cut out.

Your best option is to buy attachments made for your dryer model. If you need a specific attachment, such as a diffuser for curls, check what is included before you buy. Our hair dryer buying guide covers what to look for.

Frequently asked questions

What is the nozzle on a hair dryer for? The concentrator nozzle focuses airflow into a narrow stream so you can smooth one section at a time with a brush.

Do I need a diffuser if my hair is wavy? A diffuser helps waves and curls dry with more definition and less frizz. Straight hair rarely needs one.

What does the comb attachment do? It lets you comb and stretch hair while drying, which is useful for curly and coily hair.

Which attachments come with T3 dryers? It varies by model. The T3 Featherweight StyleMax lists 4 attachments, and the T3 Aire IQ kit lists a quick dry concentrator, style concentrator and diffuser.

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